Reports emerged earlier this week that Kylian Mbappe wanted to leave PSG in January. The main reasons for this were that he was having to play as a centre forward. He also has a difficult relationship with other star players on the team. But there have now been reports by Mediapart, revealing that PSG had apparently taken part in ‘smear campaigns’ against Mbappe.
🚨 PSG paid a communications agency to create an “army” of fake Twitter accounts. Accounts responsible for publishing violent and insulting tweets towards certain media and even personalities of the club, including Kylian Mbappé.
(Source: @Mediapart) pic.twitter.com/ZXj9qUOaO1
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 12, 2022
A report by L’Equipe also said that Mbappe is at the centre of a PSG split. He is quickly losing the support of his teammates. There are also reports that state that Mbappe thinks the club is now impossible to trust. He wants to break his massive contract with them as soon as possible.
The Mediapart investigation into PSG
This report was published on Wednesday morning by Mediapart, an independent French investigative online newspaper. They have cited examples in which PSG reportedly called an external company to create an army of fake accounts in order to lead campaigns against various ‘enemies’ of PSG, including Kylian Mbappe.
Kylian Mbappe will not be leaving PSG for Real Madrid. pic.twitter.com/SRvI6JAoaK
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 22, 2019
These examples of the smear campaign include articles from March 2019. This was when rumours had originally surfaced about Real Madrid’s interest in Kylian Mbappe. One account, Paname Squad, Mediapart claim was provided information by PSG. This account congratulated the forward on his decision but also called on players to ‘work in silence’.
The same account also posted a message critical of Mbappe when he won Ligue 1 player of the year. The message read that Mbappe needs to take on more important responsibilities at the club.
L’Equipe report on Kylian Mbappe-PSG rift
L’Equipe report that Mbappe has many reasons for not being happy with the PSG board. He feels he has been betrayed by them less than five months after signing a huge deal with the club. PSG’s board had apparently offered to buy big players like Robert Lewandowski, Bernardo Silva, and Milan Skriniar to finally help the club to European success.
They also continue to say that he is unhappy with the position he occupies in the French team’s attack. He claims to derive much more joy in playing off a centre forward, rather than being the centre-forward himself. An example of this style of play is for France, where Mbappe often plays behind a central striker, like Olivier Giroud or Karim Benzema.
L’Equipe also claims Mbappe is at the centre of attention of the PSG squad and many are unhappy with his attitude. He also plans to pay out the rest of the contract with the club in order to leave early. This amount would be colossal considering the length he has signed for.
Kylian Mbappe contract situation
Mbappe is on a reported $250 million for three seasons. This makes it very unlikely for him to pay his way out of the contract. But a Labour Lawyer explained to L’Equipe how this would be possible.
PSG striker Kylian Mbappe is considering buying himself out of his contract in January. (L’Equipe) pic.twitter.com/Ff6kRBmVyi
— Transfer News Central (@TransferNewsCen) October 15, 2022
Jeremie Delattre explained “As these are short contracts, they are solidified. In a case like this, it must be demonstrated that the employer has committed a serious fault, a simple fault is not enough.”
Seeing the reports published by Mediapart, it seems Mbappe might have a case for termination after all. But PSG are hell-bent on keeping the player at the club. The manager and sporting advisor of PSG have come out publically and said there is no rift between PSG and Mbappe.
